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Travel

The waiting game

By JANET K. KEELER
Published April 23, 2006

Despite high air fares and wobbly airline carriers, Americans are expected to take to the skies more this summer than they have in the past five years. And that means airports will be crowded.

Do yourself a favor and get to the airport early to avoid hurtling through crowds with carry-on flapping, or hopping from foot to foot as you sweat it out in security lines. Early arrival will keep you from missing a flight and save you the cost and inconvenience of rescheduling.

Here are some tips from Tom Parsons, publisher of bestfares.com, to make summer air travel a wee bit easier. He offers little hope, though, for extra leg room.

- JANET K. KEELER, Times food and travel editor

How early?

The airlines and airports recommend checking in at the ticket counter at least one hour before flight time for domestic flights, two hours before an international flight. One hour, though, may not be enough if you're flying from a major airport like Tampa International at peak times. If your airline allows it, save time by reserving your seats and printing your boarding passes in advance.

CLEARING SECURITY

The Transportation Security Administration advises that checkpoint waits vary, but at major airports during peak times (6:30 to 9 a.m. for domestic flights, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 8 to 11 p.m. for domestic and international flights), the average is 15 to 30 minutes just to clear security. Wait times of 50 minutes or more aren't unusual at Boston, Los Angeles International, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta, Miami and all New York City airports. You can visit waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/index.html to get up-to-the-minute, detailed (categorized by day of the week and hour of departure) information on your departure airport.

COUNT HEADS

Traveling solo is obviously simpler than with several people in tow, especially if some of them are young. Take into account how many are going and which ones need extra time getting through the airport. Don't deny a bathroom pit stop, or two, or you'll pay for it later.

GROUND TRANSPORTATION

Allow for traffic delays and time to park your car or return your rental and then catch the shuttle to the terminal. If you can arrange to be dropped off or use a taxi or public transportation, you'll be ahead of the game. The airlines need time to get your luggage onto the plane, so arriving early means your bags are much more likely to be on the same flight you take.

LATE CHECK-IN

Allowing extra time can save you from being bumped on an overbooked flight, and if you're already at the gate, you can volunteer to be bumped if your travel plans are flexible. If you check in late, you might be bumped whether you like it or not. If you don't check in by the required time, you may not be allowed to board even if your flight hasn't left the gate and there are empty seats.

COMING BACK

The return portion of your trip can require even more time than your departure. Unfamiliar routes to the airport, confusing rental car return areas and airport layouts, and different security procedures can add time to getting to the gate. Some foreign airports and international airlines frequently require check-in at least three hours before departure.

Bottom line

Build in extra time to your schedule. Allow yourself the luxury of sitting back at the gate and watching other passengers run through the airport.

[Last modified April 23, 2006, 10:13:30]